They have taken a malicious counsel against thy people, and have consulted against thy saints.
עַֽל־עַ֭מְּךָ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ ס֑וֹד וְ֝יִתְיָעֲצ֗וּ עַל־צְפוּנֶֽיךָ׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They have conspired against Your people (Psalm 82:4). For some, it suffices that the faithful are united with God. And they have schemed against Your holy ones. This needs no explanation; simply reading it reveals the truth. Another perspective is presented. It is articulated in a manner that seeks to undermine Your Church. They have slandered Your holy ones. Their minds are consumed daily with efforts to lure and tempt the children of the Church.
Simmachus rendered the phrase ‘on Thy holy things’ as ‘unto Thy hidden One,’ a translation echoed by Aquila and Theodotion. As the Lord Christ has come from this lineage in the flesh, and these nations conspired with the intent to annihilate the Jewish people, the Most Holy Spirit guides the Jews to offer this prayer: 'Our adversaries do not act with malice solely against us, but against Thy hidden One, who is concealed within us, and of whom it was foretold that He would arise from the tribe of Judah. For if the root is severed, what will the fruit be born from?
The God of all humanity clarifies this through Isaiah, stating, 'As the juice is found in the cluster, they proclaim, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it; I will raise up a servant for Myself, and for his sake, I will not annihilate all, and I will extract a remnant from Jacob and from Judah" (Isaiah 65:8-9). Thus, for the sake of one cluster, the entire vineyard received God's grace; however, when this cluster is removed along with its fruits, the remaining vineyard is abandoned to wild animals, with the beasts of the forest devouring it, and the vultures from among the forest feasting upon it, while the ‘solitary divii’ crushes it, and all who pass by trample upon it as they desire (Psalm 79:13-14). The supplicants declare that their foes rage not only against them but also against Thy hidden treasures.
Against Your people, they have maliciously plotted; Your adversaries, declares the Lord, have acted with deliberate intent against Your people. This term indicates a range of wickedness or, alternatively, can denote counsel or advice, as mentioned by the Apostle: "Concerning virginity, I have no command from the Lord, but I give counsel" (1 Cor. 7:25). Here, it suggests that they have cunningly devised schemes against Your people, O Lord. This term can also refer to opinion or judgment, as seen in Daniel: "against whom this shameless judgment has come out" (Dan. 2:15). Additionally, it can imply faith, teachings, or one’s worldview, as Gregory the Theologian notes: the ability to generate thoughts from oneself reflects the work of a righteous individual.
They have consulted concerning Your holy ones. This is a form of reiteration, as the subsequent phrases clarify the earlier ones. David refers to the Jews as holy, acknowledging their faith in the holy God, despite their departure from holiness. He also refers to them as reverend in verse 2 of Psalm 78: "Thy reverend flesh" (Psalm 78:2), a point previously discussed. Another perspective mentions the saints, praying that all the people might receive mercy on their behalf, as the enemies secretly contrive their plans against them. Simmachus translated "against Your saints" as "against Your hidden things," which may refer to the sacred aspects of the temple or, according to Theodoret, to Christ, who came from the Jews. He asserts that they not only employ deceit against us but also dare to rage against our sacred truths: for when the root is severed, whence will the fruit emerge? Thus, in accordance with Isaiah's words (Isaiah 65:8), for one berry, meaning Christ, the entire cluster, representing the people of Judah, receives a blessing, or more accurately stated, the whole vine. When He departed and the remaining fruit was gathered with Him, the leftover grapes were left for the wild animals.
Observe how the prophet highlights a distinct form of hostility towards God. Those who wage conflict against God's people and His saints are engaging in battle against Him, whom they serve and are closely related to. This conflict encompasses not just the external warfare described later, where the nations clash with the Israelites, but also the covert struggle sinners often bear against the righteous. The prophet does not merely note, "they devised a deceitful scheme," but rather, "they willingly devised a deceitful scheme." This indicates their use of various forms of cunning. These individuals first strip away the resources, properties, or possessions of those dedicated to God, aiming to lead them to ingratitude and blasphemy against the Lord.
When these efforts fail, they provoke them towards indulgence, igniting the flames of vanity, pride, and arrogance, offering counsel as foes while pretending to be friends. This is further illustrated by their declaration, "Come and let us eradicate them from the nations, that the name of Israel may be no longer remembered."
In this passage, the Prophet illustrates the peril faced by the faithful, highlighting that their adversaries not only oppressed them through brute force and ambition but also through their cunning schemes, leaving the Israelites without any hope of evading death itself. When it is proclaimed, "They shall make a noise, and lift up the head," it signifies that the foes, confident in their own power, acted with aggression and arrogance. Such pride deeply troubles the hearts of the righteous; thus, the saints often bring this very pride before God in their pleas for assistance, seeking His intervention to bring low their enemies' arrogance. It is significant to acknowledge that all who cause strife for the Church are regarded as foes of God.
This understanding is a significant source of comfort, as it affirms that these adversaries stand against both us and the Almighty. This assurance is rooted in His gracious covenant, wherein He vowed to confront all who oppose us. Rightfully so, since by placing us under His guardianship, we have found safety, making it so that our enemies can only insult us at the peril of dishonoring God's sovereignty. Even if our foes add treachery to their pride and fierce ambition, we should still glorify God, for He provides us with aid against such wickedness. As He dismantles the arrogance of those who rage against us, He likewise vanquishes the deceitful (1 Cor. 3:19). To prevent us from feeling that we will always be vulnerable to the allegations and schemes of our adversaries, the Prophet offers comforting assurance by referring to us as the hidden ones of God, indicating that we are sheltered beneath His wings. This is further supported by the Lord's words, "Cover me in the mystery of His tabernacle" (Psalm 26:5).
The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit through David, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the worshippers, for the purpose of declaring the prophetic message within it regarding the impending trials faced by the Jewish people, particularly the faithful followers of Christ during various epochs, especially during the reign of the Antichrist. In this endeavor, the prophet seeks God earnestly, voicing the prayers of the Holy Church amid persecution. Evil is likened to a demonic allure that leads to idolatry and sinful behavior. Due to God's forbearance, adversaries have grown arrogant, becoming boisterous and insolent. Those who rage against God's elect and His saints engage in a conflict with Him, as they are His servants and brethren.
The regions of Idumea were populated by the Idumeans, descendants of Esau, also known as Edom, due to the fiery hue of his complexion. The Ishmaelites traced their lineage to Ishmael, born of Abraham and the servant Hagar. Moabites descended from Moab, Lot’s son, and the Hagarites refer to those born from Hagar after she was cast out by Abraham when she wedded another man. The Gevalites were tribes residing near Idumea. The Ammonites were the descendants of Ammon, also Lot's son, while the Amalekites descended from Amalek, a descendant of Esau, who resided in Arabia, apart from the territory of Judah. By listing these associated wicked tribes, the prophet illustrates that one’s most immediate adversaries often come from within one’s own circle, a truth noted by Christ (Matthew 10:36). Hence, the prophet positions the outsiders last in his account.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS